As you may be aware, there are currently two neighbouring residential plots on Omega South, one which is being developed by Miller Homes and the other by Redrow.  In both cases, to enable the sites to be developed, tree removal works were undertaken for/ by the housebuilders.  These works were only carried out where absolutely essential in order to construct infrastructure in these areas, either road accesses or flood attenuation ponds.

I can confirm that there are no Tree Protection Orders on the site and all tree removal works were all undertaken within the planning permission granted by Warrington Borough Council, following extensive arboricultural studies.  The flurry of activity at the moment is because all tree removal has to happen before the end of February to avoid bird nesting season.

With reference to the attenuation ponds, these are vital to ensure that all rain water run-off from the sites can be collected and redistributed slowly into water courses to prevent localised flooding.  However whilst being practical drainage solutions, these ponds will also evolve over time to become wildlife habitats to all sorts of animal, insect and plant species, supporting the biodiversity of the area.

In terms of land outside of existing and future residential and commercial development plots, I am pleased to confirm that as of summer this year, some fifty acres of land at Omega has been handed over to the Land Trust, a national land management charity.

This means that existing trees within the landscape buffer zones are now owned and controlled by the Land Trust. A planning consent is also now in place which includes a comprehensive landscaping scheme to bolster planting in these buffer zones, once the infrastructure works are complete. (follow this link for a copy of the approved replacement planting scheme).

As regards the 50 acres as a whole, the role of the Land Trust at Omega will be the remodelling of these spaces, over the coming years, to create a 35 acres central park, called the Green Heart, and a network of connected green corridors around the Omega development.  When completed, these spaces will include wetland and woodland habitats, building on the established Great Crested Newt community already present, along with public footpaths and cycle ways providing attractive and wildlife diverse routes through the site.

Omega Warrington Ltd and Warrington Borough Council are very aware that some of these tree removal works may be upsetting for local people. However, both parties want to reassure all the communities surrounding Omega that this is very much a short-term situation; we have significant medium to long-term plans, in partnership with the Land Trust, which are being put into place now to create some very special, vibrant, wildlife-rich spaces for the future.  As well as re-providing the visual buffers previously enjoyed by neighbouring residents, these spaces will also create new leisure opportunities and educational, biodiverse pockets of interest on large swathes of land that will, for the first time, be open to the community as a whole.

Andy Farrall

Deputy Chief Executive & Executive Director

Economic Regeneration, Growth and Environment

Warrington Borough Council